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The Emmaus Story |
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Emmaus is now one of the world's largest Bible schools, and supplies more than a million courses a year in over 117 languages and 98 countries. All Emmaus
courses are fully Bible-based. Check the Emmaus is operated by Christians from Open Brethren assemblies, but it serves people from many different backgrounds. Our materials are available to everyone. We have courses for children, teens and adults. There are courses for non-Christians, new Christians and experienced Christians. Emmaus courses can be used for individual study or for group study. An attractive Certificate is awarded on completion. Emmaus Correspondence School exists to teach and disseminate the Word of God through external education in the form of correspondence courses and other materials which are specially prepared to help persons both in New Zealand and overseas. The courses are designed to be evangelical, educational and edifying in nature and consistent with the Emmaus Statement of Belief. Since 1942 the Emmaus Correspondence School has provided Bible study courses to people around the world. The Correspondence School started a year after Dr. R.E. Harlow, John Smart and Earnest Tatham began an evening Bible School in Toronto, Canada. There was a demand for systematic Bible teaching from students who were unable to attend the school and the three founders decided to develop the evening school lessons into correspondence courses. Notes from the evening school classes were copied and exams written to test the understanding of the student. By November 1942 there were 137 students enrolled in one of the three courses offered, Pedagogy (child training), Bible Doctrine, and New Testament Survey. Seven years later, there were 1,250 active students. A person could now gain a basic understanding of the Scriptures without having to give up a job or leave home. The paving of the Emmaus Road went beyond North America when in 1949 a missionary in the Philippines began using the courses as follow-up to a Gospel broadcast. The response was immediate and many wanted to study the Bible. Other missionaries became interested in the possibilities of reaching those in remote area with Bible study by mail. This launched the use of Emmaus courses overseas. Today courses are available in over 120 languages from more than 1200 distribution centers. By 1956 the distribution of courses had reached over 100,000. In the late 1950s, the courses started to be used in the Cook County Jail. The distribution of courses in prison grew slowly and became more organized. In 1963 the milestone of distributing over two million courses worldwide was reached. In 1971 the prison work became more concentrated and in 1974 the first Emmaus Prison Coordinators were appointed. The work now includes all 50 US States and Canada and many other countries with over five million courses distributed to inmates. There are now over 80 courses available for study from Emmaus in New Zealand. To date over 20 million Emmaus courses have been distributed worldwide. Advantages of Home Bible Study Courses Distance Learning is not a new idea. The Apostle Paul used it when he wrote courses in the form of circular letters. His respondents studied the “course” and communicated back to him in areas, which they did not understand. Paul then wrote another course or letter to clear up the cloudy issues. Distance Learning education is a form of teaching that contains an organized course of self-study with a two-way communication between student and instructor over a distance. It may be completed by mail, over the Internet, or even face–to-face. Emmaus Correspondence School has been helping students study the Bible by mail since 1942. Leading educators recognize study by mail as an effective method of learning. Students frequently achieve better results from home study than through classroom instruction. It has been shown that students often experience a greater degree of retention of material studied through correspondence than through other means. A Bible correspondence course is not a substitute for the Word of God, but rather a helpful tool that leads the student, a step at a time, into some of the great truths of Scripture. Through the examination technique, it seeks a response, enabling the student to express themselves and the instructor to evaluate the student’s needs and respond in turn with appropriate counsel or instruction. There are other advantages, too. Home study is convenient; the students arrange the study to suit their own schedule. Home study is inexpensive; there is no loss of earnings or expensive tuition and living costs that are associated with being a resident student. In addition, when the student enrolls in an Emmaus course, the student receives Biblically-sound Christ-centered study materials. The student is able to select from a wide range of courses from a constantly expanding curriculum to meet his current needs or interest. In summary, when a student enrolls in an
Emmaus course they receive much more than an ordinary tract, book or study
guide can offer. Included in the enrollment are not only the services and
counsel of a personal tutor, but a continuing interest in their spiritual
growth and welfare. Come and join the millions who have benefited from the help of
Emmaus Correspondence Courses in their personal study and ministry to others. Ten reasons to study with Emmaus 1 The courses are Biblically sound 2 They are instructional 3 They are systematic 4 They test for comprehension 5 The student receives personalized instruction 6 Flexible studying times 7 Over 80 courses to choose from 8 They are excellent teaching tools 9 They are inexpensive 10 The student receives certificates for successful completion of courses |
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